The range of Macau mangrove forests that can purify SAR waters has fallen by a third over the last three decades, university researchers told Lusa today (Wednesday).
“It was 60 hectares in the 1990s, but now it is about 19 hectares, concentrated in parts of Taipa, Cotai and Coloane.
They were destroyed by the pressure of urbanization, but now there is a great deal of effort by the authorities to reforest these areas with the help of the University of San Jose, “said Christina, an environmental engineer who is a lecturer at the university. Calheiros explained.
“Mangrove forests are like natural water treatment stations. They are ecosystems that are used for salt, purify water, remove pollutants and heavy metals, and serve as a support for decontaminating water. “A scholar with a PhD in biotechnology explained the context.
Christina Calheiros is not only an important environmental contribution with benefits including fighter mediation, as mangroves are carbon sequestration and nesting sites, but these forests are “fish, crabs, bivalves and other oceans”. It is also an economic level because it is an animal-producing region. “
In other words, he concludes: “This is an example of how Macau should adopt a nature-based solution.
Not only the conservation of wetlands and mangrove forests, but other measures should be taken in Macau, he said, and authorities can set an example.
A solution that also includes actions in the building, such as creating vertical gardens and rooftop greens. This is because the Vice President of the National Rooftop Greening Association said: It provides examples of management and policy for plastics, one of the major pollutants in the ocean.
And Macau, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, is “progressing urbanization, blockage of the surface, deterioration of coastal areas, air and water quality, and lack of green space.”
Due to climate change, more extreme conditions, and the additional problems of more sudden rainfall events, urban runoffs flowing into the sea affect water quality and in areas where potential pollution factors from neighboring areas must also be considered. Requires investment in sanitation and drainage.
He argues that the University of San Jose also promotes environmental awareness / educational activities to meet the need for everyone to participate in the same mission, in line with the belief that a “big picture of the problem” is needed. did.
After all, he concluded that “we need to bet on environmental literacy.” “I set an example,” he added.
